Sunday, November 10, 2075
IPA PICKS RHEAMES AND MCCLURE NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR
The top first-year performers in the Islandian Pro Alliance were Rod Rheems of the Waleska Westerners and Wade McClure of the Cape Coral Hurricanes... the 24-year-old Rheems was voted the Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year and 27-year-old McClure received the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year honor.
Rheems played left field and paced Waleska to a third-place finish in the Ruthlandian South Division... he had an astounding first season in the IPA, topping the Ruthlandian Union with a .369 BA, 122 runs and 223 hits in 153 games... Rheems also led the IPA in batting average... this season's 2075 Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year also had 30 doubles, 10 triples, 24 homers, 116 RBIs and stole 32 bases... Rheems was hands-down the best newcomer in the Ruthlandian Union... in fact, he was easily the top freshman in the Islandian Pro Alliance and one of the standout stars in the entire league... Rheems also won the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award.
Belle Plaine first baseman Johnny Doolen was his biggest competition, but he ended up far behind Rheems in the voting... Doolen batted .281 in 145 games for the third-place Sugar Valley Rattlers... he totaled 152 hits with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 32 homers, 119 RBIs, 95 runs scored and stole 13 bases.
Third place in the ROY poll went to Clayton Cooley, left fielder for the San Dimas Rancheros in the RU South... his club wound up in the cellar, but Cooley starred with a .323 mark in 127 games with 25 homers, 144 hits, 74 RBIs and 86 runs scored.
The 2075 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year was Wade McClure of the Cape Coral Hurricanes... McClure led the 'Canes to the third spot in the TU South standings, putting up a .372 BA, which was the best in the IPA, but it was not enough at bats to qualify for the batting title... McClure only started 92 games at first base and collected 144 hits, along with 8 homers, 52 RBIs and scored 49 runs.
Winding up a very close second in the best rookie balloting was Denton City second sacker Pip Brewton, who helped the Redbirds come in fourth place in the Tycobbian West race... Brewton batted .331 with 171 hits in 135 games with 5 homers, 66 RBIs and 61 runs scored.
Third in the TU top rookie award poll was Midway hurler Chipper Simpson with a strong 16-5 record and 2.19 ERA in 30 starts... the Wolves came in third place in the TU East.
